wesley

Our lab is engaged in the study of molecular biology and cellular immunology of infectious diseases, with particular interests in drug discovery, pathogenesis and protective antigens for vaccines. Towards drug discovery, we study the protozoan pathogens that cause Chagas' disease (Trypanosoma cruzi), African sleeping sickness (Trypanosoma brucei), leishmaniasis, and malaria. We use structure-based drug design, targeting enzymes of glycolysis and protein prenylation, to help find new compounds that are active against these protozoan parasites. We use molecular techniques such as genetic deletions (knock outs) and structure-activity correlations to test our hypothesis that these enzymes are good drug targets. We have developed high-throughput techniques for testing the activity of these compounds against mammalian forms of these parasites in vitro. We also have developed rodent models for testing the activity of these compounds in vivo.